Beer tap



Oct. 15, 1935.

BEER TAP Filed Jan. 26, 1954 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY5 E. G. STEFFEN 2,017,187

Patented Oct. 15, i 1935 UNITED STATES rlxrrzlvr OFFICE BEER TAP Application January 26, 1934, Serial No. 708,341

' 5 Claims. (01.225-3) This invention relates to taps for connecting the delivery tube of a draft apparatus to beer barrels or other liquid containers from which the contents are drawn off by a draft tube.

45 Taps of the character to which my invention relates have a nipple or equivalent coupling element by which the gas supplying hose may be attached to the tap for placing the barrel under pressure to force its contents out through the l draft tube. These nipples Vextend laterally outward from the taps intermediate the ends thereof and in the taps as heretofore employed are not adjustable to free the chime or other obstruction on the barrel which may hinder, if not prevent,

' the application of the tap to the barrel should the tap attaching fitting on the barrel be located close to the obstruction and have its locking lugs for the tap disposed to cause the nipple to contact with the obstruction on positioning the tap to engage the fitting. In a connection of this kind, the tap is pushed axially onto the tting and then turned to carry the lugs on the tap under those on the fitting. The tting lugs are inclined on their undersides to'draw the tap into tight engagement with the ntting. rnesmeuer ends of the tting lugs are reversely arranged at the entrance ways between them, thus requiring a predetermined rotative position of the tap with respect to the tting for the proper application of the tap to the tting. Obviously, the setting of the fitting lugs with respect to the chime or other closely adjacent obstruction on the barrel is important for taps as heretofore employed, otherwise their application to the barrel is likely to be hindered, if not prevented, by the interfering obstruction.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to overcome these objections by having the nipple adjustably'mounted on the tap, whereby the nipple may be set to free the chime or other closely adjacent obstruction on the barrel should such obstruction interfere with the application of the tap to the barrel in any other position of the nipple.

n A further object of my invention is to provide for this adjustment by having the support'for the nipple rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the tap and the nipple extending outwardly 5,0V through a slot in the tap in transverse relation to its axis and of a length su'icient for the adjustment of the nipple for the purposes referred to.

A further object of my invention is to provide 55S the slot with recesses in the form of widened portions at its opposite ends whereby the nipple may enter the recesses and not hinderthe relatively axial movement of the nipple support and the outer casing of the tap on the application of the tap to its attaching fltting on the barrel or other `5 container with which the tap is usable.

A further object of my invention is to employ theslidably and rotatably mounted draft tube receiving bushing in the tap as the nipple support and use the spring means of that bushing 10 for normally maintaining the nipple free of the recesses Vof the slot on the removal of the tap from'v its fitting. e

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the Vfollowing specification taken in l5 connection with theA accompanying drawing, in

Which- .Y Fig. l is a top plan view of a barrel having a chime extending about its head or top wall and equipped with a tap attaching tting of the type 20 heretofore describedy and disposed in closely spaced relation to the chime as frequently occurs in liquid containers of this type;

Fig. 2 shows the tap of my invention applied to a tap fitting located as in Fig. 1 and illustrat- 25 ing the manner in which the nipple of the tap may be adjusted to clear the chime of the barrel, the showing being on a larger scale than that of Fig. 1, and the tap being in section at the nipple; 30

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of my improved 35 tap removed from' the barrel.

In the drawing, l indicates the top Wall or head of a wooden or other barrel of the type in which the body wall 2 of the barrel continues beyond the top wall and.provides the so-called chime 3 40- about the head of the barrel. 4 indicates a tap attaching fitting secured to the barrel head l in the bung opening 5 therein, said opening and the tting 4 being located closely adjacent the chime 3 of the barrel as is a frequent occurrence 45 in containers of this character.

The fitting 4 is securedto the top wall l by a nut 6 applied to the lower end of a tubular member 'l and clamped against the under surface of the top wall, as shown in Fig. 3. Member l eX- tends through the bung opening 5 and projects above the top wall of the barrel where it is provided with means,fas inthe form of lugs 8, for detachably connecting the tap thereto.

The tap has a? tubular outer casing 9 ttable 55 as shown in the drawing. The slot may have" the length desired, the slot in the drawing sub-j tending an angle of slightly .more than 90 degrees.

Located in the casing 9 is la bushing I4. The" latter extends longitudinally ofthe casing 'fon o pposite sides of the slot II and provides a support for the nipple I2. The nippleis connected at its inner end to the bushing and extends laterally outward therefrom through the slot in the casing.A

as shown. The bushing is rotatably mounted .in the casing Qsothat thenipple may be adjusted aboutthe axis. of the casing to the length of .the slot. The bushing is `also 'slidably mounted in the casing 9 so that the casing andthebushing may have Vrelative axial movement on the application of the tap to .and'its removal from Vthe iitting 4. In applying the tap, the casing is rforced downwardly over the upper endof the member I to position thelocking lugs on .the casingbelow those on the member 1.,.whereupon thecasing is turned axially tointerlock the lugs. A handle member I5 at the upper end of the casing is then turned to .tightenLthe connection between the tapY and its iitting .and toA compressa gasketV I6 on the bushing I4 between: the same'and the upper end of the member '1. 'I'he handle I5` has screw threaded connection with the casing 9 and acts on the bushing'I wthrough a coiled spring .I "I in the casing. about the bushing;y f J.. Handle I5 alsoseals a gasket ,I8 against the outer sideof axdraft vtube `'I9 which is extended into the barrel through. the.bushingV I4 s. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bore of *.thebushing is slightly larger in diameter than the.draft tube. I9 so that the gas under pressure supplied by thenipple may enterthe barrel about the tube toforce the liquid out of `thebarrel through ther tube.z.,.-T"ne latter is apertured at or Vadjacent `its lower .end and is connected at its upper end to the-,usual dispensing faucet asin aurait-apparatus..

Recesses 4'41),' 20f'are provided-at the opposite ends of the slot IIgto increase its width beyond that of the diameter of the portion ofithe vnipple extending therethrough. T hese ,recesses are preferably in the upperwall .of ltheslot andserve two purposes. First,V they 4prevent the Vnipple hindering the relative. axial movvementof the casing 9 and the bushing I4 on applying'the tap to the tting 4 and when sealingjthe `joint at the gasket I 6. The relative axialmovement of the parts carry the nipple into the recesslatvwhich it is located and the recess thus holds the nipple from` accidental movement outof its adjusted position. L

When the tap is released from the fitting 4, the springs I1 forces the Vbushing I #downwardly and frees the nipple ,from the recessesjsoj that the nipple may be adjusted yfrom one endi of theV slot to the other along its straight bottom;wall Vwhich serves as a `guide -fQr-themovement .The bushing i I4 is maintained' central .in the-*casing 9 by having its uppergendgttinggin `the. portionfof the handle ISjatthegupperxend of the casing and its ilQWfr. endlttine. .againstran yinwardly extending guide 2l in the casing 9 below the slot II. The bushing I4 also carries the gasket I6 ence to the particular setting of the lugs of the tting to the chime of the barrel. Thus, the tap .i is not restricted to any particular lug setting,

but is usuable .with all settings, the nipple being adjusted for those settings which with a nipple 15 vin "a fixed position could not be used. The adjustable feature therefor enlarges the use of the tap and renders it generally applicable to all ttings of the character for which it is designed.

The advantage of the adjustable nipple is made 20 clear in Fig. 2. With the lugs 8 of iitting 4 .disposed as in Figs. .land .2,k the tap could not be applied to the barrel-with the nipple at the right hand endof the slotas indicated by the showing of the ;nipp1e .at'positiona The nipple in this position would extend over the chime 3 and contact 'withA it before the tap could reach the fiting 4. Adjusting the nipple to position b at the left hand end of the sletv freesV the nipple from thechime and allows the tap towbeapplied to 3i thev fitting 4. In doingthis, the lugs Il l Qn the tap pass downward lbetween thelugs 8 on the fitting until belowY the same,l Vwhereupon` the :tap is turned about V90 degrees to interlock the lugs. WThis carries thernripple to position c. a The tap can 35i engage the fitting 4in only one rotatable position, and with the nippleadjustable axially'v of the tap, thelatter maybe attached to its fitting even close to a chime, as' in the drawing.

'The details of construction and particular'ar- 4,9l rangementY of parts herein shown and described lmay be variously changed and'm'odied without departing from" the spirit andsc'ope' of my invention 'except aspo'inted 'out in the appended claims. I claim 'as my invention: 45.; 1'. In atap ofthe character described, an outer casing having'means' for releasably attaching the tap to ataptting on a barrel, a bushing' in said casing, and'ai'pressure hose attaching nipple car-l ried Vby the bushing and extending laterally cut- 50: 4ward fromthe bushing through'an elongated slot in the casing, vsaid slot extending transversely of the axisy of the-bushing, the latter being rotatably mounted in the casing whereby the nipple may be adjusted lengthwise of the slot,'said `slot also 551 serving-toguidethe nipple in its adjustment along the length of the slot. y v 2. In a tap of thejcharacter described, an outer casing having means for releasablyV attaching the tap to a tap fitting on" a barrel, a bushing in said 00 casing,V and a pressure hose attaching nipple carried by the bushing and extendingglaterally out- Wardv fromthe bushing through aslotfin the casing, `said slot extending transversely'of the axis of the bushing` and having recesses at itsY opposite ends, said bushing Ybeingslidably and rotatably mounted inthe casing, whereby the nipple may be adjusted tothe ends of the slot and enter the Arecess inthe relative axial movement of the bushing and the casing on attaching the tap to a 70- tting. -"1 3.1'In atapof'the character described, jan outer casing having means for releasably attaching the tap'to a tap tting oniabarrel, a'bushing'in said casing, a pressure hose attaching nipple carried i by the bushing and extending laterally outward from the bushing through a slot in the casing, said slot extending transversely to the axis of the bushing and having recesses in one wall of the slot at the opposite ends thereof, said bushing being slidably and rotatably mounted in the casing, whereby the nipple may be adjusted to the ends of the slot and enter the recesses in the re1- ative axial movement of the bushing and casing on attaching the tap to a fitting, and spring means in the casing acting on the bushing for normally maintaining the nipple free of the recessesA when the tap is removed from the tting.

4. In a tap of the character described, an outer casing, having means for releasably attaching the tap to a tap fitting on a barreha bushing in said casing, a pressure hose attaching nipple carriedby the bushing and extending laterally outward from the bushing through a slot in the casing, said slot extending transversely of the axis of the bushing and having recesses in its upper edge at the opposite ends of the slot, said bushing being slidably and rotatably mounted in the casing, whereby the nipple may be adjusted to the ends of the slot and enter the recesses in the relative axial movement of the bushing and the casing on attaching the tap to a fitting, and spring means in the casing acting on the bushing for normally maintaining the nipple free of the recesses of the slot and adjacent the lower edge thereof when the tap is removed from the fitting, 5

the lower edge of the slot being substantially straight to guide the nipple in its adjustment to the ends of the slot.

5. A tap for connecting a draft tube to the head of a barrel having a chime about the head, comprising an outer casing for connecting the tap to the barrel hear, a bushing in the casing embracing the dra-ft tube when extended therethrough, and a pressure hose attaching nipple `carried by the bushing and extending laterally outward from the bushing through a slot in the casing, said slot extending transversely of the axis of the bushing, the latter being rotatably mounted in the casing whereby the nipple may be adjusted from one end of the slot to the other to free the chime should the nipple when at one end of the slot interfere with the attachingv of the tap to the barrel by contact with the chime, said slot also serving to guide the nipple in its adjustment along the slot.

ELMER G. STEFFEN. 

